Sylvester Stallone to get his first Broadway producing credit on the musical

Following a well-received world preem last year in Hamburg, Germany for “Rocky — Das Musical,” a Stateside run had been widely expected, especially once longrunning tuner “Mamma Mia!” announced plans recently to vacate the Winter Garden for a smaller venue.

Sylvester Stallone, the screenwriter and star of the 1976 film , will pick up his first Broadway producer credit on the tuner, on which he joins forces with Stage Entertainment USA, the U.S. branch of the Euro legit giant (“Sister Act”) that produced the show in Hamburg.

Alex Timbers, the helmer whose recent credits includes “Peter and the Starcatcher” and current Off Broadway outing “Here Lies Love,” adds the Broadway “Rocky” to his plate along with the upcoming fall bow of “The Last Goodbye,” the “Romeo and Juliet” rock musical using the tunes of Jeff Buckley. Kelly Devine (“Rock of Ages”) choreographs “Rocky,” with fight choreography by Steven Hoggett (“Once,” “Peter and the Starcatcher”).

Tuner has a score by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens (“Once On This Island,” “Ragtime”) and book by Thomas Meehan (“Hairspray,” “The Producers,” “Annie”).

“Mamma Mia” has yet to set an exact date for its shift to the Broadhurst, but it’s expected to be sometime later this year. “Rocky” targets a February 2014 start date for previews ahead of its March 2014 opening.